David Bowie writes theme song for new Sky Atlantic show

Legendary pop-rock icon, David Bowie has written and recorded his first TV theme in over 20 years.

His “dark” new track will feature on the opening credits of Sky Atlantic’s upcoming series, The Last Panthers. Co-produced by Sky and Canal+, the six-part series delves into the criminal underground of Europe, as a British loss adjuster named Naomi (Samantha Morton) attempts to recover diamonds stolen in a daring heist.

Speaking of Bowie’s involvement, series’ director Johan Renck said: “I was looking for one of the icons of my youth to write the music for the title sequence, but was presented with a god. His first response was precise, engaged and curious. The piece of music he laid before us embodied every aspect of our characters and the series itself – dark, brooding, beautiful and sentimental (in the best possible incarnation of this word).”

“All along, the man inspired and intrigued me and as the process passed, I was overwhelmed with his generosity,” he continued. “I still can’t fathom what actually happened.”

This is Bowie’s first original contribution to a television show, since he recorded the theme to the BBC’s 1993 series, The Buddha of Suburbia – which reached no. 35 in the UK single charts. He also released an EP of songs written to accompany his appearance in the BBC adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Baal in 1982.

Also starring John Hurt and Tahar Rahim, The Last Panthers is set to air at some point in November on Sky Atlantic. Watch the trailer below.

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